"(O)nly the Jewish People have national rights," he claims. "A flag, anthem, the right of every Jew to immigrate to the country, and other national symbols."

At a Sunday cabinet meeting, he instructed "Cabinet Secretary Avichai Mendelbit, along with Interior Minister Gilad Erdan, to submit draft legislation to revoke rights from residents who participate in terrorism or incitement against the State of Israel."

"This law is important in order to exact a price from those who engage in attacks and incitement, including the throwing of stones and firebombs, and it complements the demolition of terrorists' homes, and helps to create deterrence."

At issue is responding to legitimate Palestinian resistance. In East Jerusalem. Throughout the West Bank. In response to continued Israeli state terror.

Israel considers its own harshness self-defense. Legitimate Palestinian self-defense is called "terrorism."

Imagine criminalizing free expression, assembly, and displaying a national flag. What Israel calls an "enemy" symbol or emblem.

Ludicrously believed it could be an exclusively Jewish state and democratic at the same time.

It "hesitated to legislate in (an outright) racist manner since it was possible, in its leaders' eyes, to practice a de facto apartheid state with laws that were democratic in discourse but discriminatory in nature when implemented," said Pappe.

No longer. At least not now. Confronting legitimate resistance with increasingly racist legislation.

In 1964, the PLO adopted the Palestinian flag. After Israel's 1967 Six Day War, it was outlawed.

In 1993, lifted the ban. Following the Oslo Accords. Legalizing it didn't matter.

Israel continued criminalizing its display. Targeting Palestinians carrying it in marches, demonstrations or student protests.